Well I had a chance to see Kevin Durant in person (along with Cody, Matty Fraser, and Kapral) about a month ago. Durant's team (Montrose Christian) was playing in a game against perennial high school powerhouse South Oak Cliff and their own high school All-American, the still undecided Darrell Arthur. Even better for us, this game was in South Dallas. Let's just say we were in the minority at this event. It was a good time and we got to see some amazing high school talent up close and personal.
Well yesterday, the nation saw what Kevin Durant is all about in the McDonald's High School all star game. This 2006 class is the best overall talent I've seen on one court since back when Garnett and Stephon marbury came out many moons ago. Unbelievably, everyone in last night's game will play at least one year thanks to the genius move by David Stern on imposing an age restriction on entering the NBA draft. While everyone who follows basketball knows Greg Oden is going to be the next great Big Man in basketball, Durant put on a show last night. The kid is only 17 years old at 6 foot 10 inches and a shade over 200 pounds soaking wet, has nothing but improving to do as he gets older. The kid has a size 20 shoe! and something ridiculous like a 7'3" wingspan.
I have seen very few players at the high school level with as much skill as Durant. I've heard so many people try to compare him to some of the greats (Garnett, Rashard lewis, Tracy McGrady, etc.). The truth is Durant is going to be one of the greats but he is going to do it his own way.
I'm just glad Texas is going to be the place where he plays his college ball before he takes his talent to the NBA. I would not be shocked to see him spend two years with the strength guy at Texas (Todd Wright), and he will be the #1 pick for sure in a couple seasons. He is that good.
A couple of other playrs who stood out in yesterday's McDonald's All American game.
Javaris Crittendon and Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech): Both of these players showed some unblievable talent and Georgia Tech is in for a signficant upgrade with these two guys coming in next year for Paul Hewitt
Jon Scheyer (Duke): This guy will help Duke fans get over their hero Redick leaving school. This guy is another in the long line of white guys who go to Duke and can flat out shoot the ball from the outside.
Chase Budlinger (Arizona): This is a big, 6'8" power forward from Cali is going to play for Lute Olsen. He shared MVP honors with Durant and appears to have a ton of skill.
Darrell Arthur (undecided): The South Oak Cliff (SOC) star is down to two schools. Kansas and Texas. I got to give the nod to Texas at this point only because it makes too much sense for him to slide into Aldridge's spot in the middle if and when Aldridge declares for the draft and becomes the #1 pick. I think Arthur is going to get a call from Aldridge (formerely of Seagoville in the DFW area), and Arthur is going to end up in the Burnt Orange.
I hope......
Eaton out 3 months
Just as I begin to get optimistic about the Rangers, their supposed #2 starter goes down with a tendon injury in his pitching hand. As a result, we are going to have R.A. Dickey and most likely Juan Dominguez at the back of the rotation to start the season. Kameron Loe and Vicente Padilla all of sudden have very little room for error as the top 3 guys in the staff are going to have to carry the load early on.
Dickey and Dominguez honesly isn't that much different than Eaton/Dickey, because Eaton most likely would have struggled early in the ballpark.
I just hate to the start the season with so many injury concerns along with Wilkerson's shoulder and GMJ's hamstring. Oh well, let's get this season started already before someone else gets hurt.
I still think the Ranger pen will hopefully be back to 2004 levels when it had one of the best bullpens in the league. Last year was a nightmare in the 7th, 8th and sometimes 9th innings and Coco had an medicore by his standards season. Having the WBC Japanese star (Akinori Otsuka) as the primary setup man for a hopefully resurgent Coco Cordero will make the Rangers much better at the end of games.
Joquin Benoit, Alfonseca, Shouse, Rule 5 draft pick Fabio Castro, and either Scott Feldman or Erasmo Ramirez will round out the pen.
It looks like Laynce Nix will break with the 25 man roster on opening day thanks to GMJ starting the season the DL.
Masters Pool Obligatory plug for Johnny Mackovic (yes that John Mackovic's son) Masters Pool that gets bigger and bigger every year. Sign up a team or 10 see how you do
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